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Detroit Tigers Bullpen strong in May, in good place moving forward

By Ben Rosener

May 9, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Wilson (left) celebrates with catcher James McCann after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Wilson (left) celebrates with catcher James McCann after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 29, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Future Success

Moving forward, there’s reason to believe that the Detroit Tigers will continue to find success.

Justin Wilson should continue to close out games. If he can rack up strikeouts at a similar rate to what he’s done so far, the Tigers will be in excellent shape.

Wilson owns a 45.5 strikeout percentage, and has struck out 15 batters per nine innings.

For reference, last season’s leaders in strikeout percentage and strikeouts per nine innings among relievers were Andrew Miller (44.7) and Dellin Betances (15.53).

The Tigers will also continue to rely on Greene, who seems to be turning a corner in relief. The former starter looked sharp in working around a pair of base runners in Monday’s 1-0 loss to Houston.

Pitching in the eighth inning, Greene rallied to strikeout the side, dropping in some nasty looking breaking balls in the process.

The reliever has allowed just one run since April 25th. Greene has also struck out nine batters in his last 5.1 innings (20 batters faced).

Overall, he’s punched out 11.14 batters per nine innings, while notching a 28.9 strikeout percentage. Both stats rank second only to Justin Wilson among Detroit relievers.

If he continues to miss bats, the Detroit Tigers will be all the better for it.

With Justin Wilson, Greene, Alex Wilson, Hardy and Bell, Detroit already has a solid foundation on which to build on.

Fewer Poor Outings

The team will also be moving forward with fewer run-hemorrhaging outings from Rodriguez and Sanchez.

Rodriguez has a 3.86 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .125 batting average and a .263 on-base percentage in his last five outings (4.2 innings).

That stretch has seen the reliever lower his ERA from 7.82 to 7.16. Additionally he only allowed two hits and two runs in the same span.

Both runs and hits came in one outing in the 13th inning of a loss to the Baltimore Orioles that was equal parts marathon and slugfest.

Meanwhile, Sanchez is with Triple-A Toledo after accepting an optional assignment.

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